clam question im a newb when it comes to clams

K

KING OF THE REEF

New member
i have a 2 gallon seahorse tank with alot of space to use. i have 13 watts a gallon of intense power compact. can I keep a maxima clam in this tank until it out grows it. Please get back to me as I have a green with black specks maxima on hold at the lfs and i have only 2 days to go pick it up or else it is someone's elses. lmk please
 
I've not heard of a clam being kept in a 2 gallon tank, but I haven't heard of a lot of things; still i don't think that's enough lighting, but it's an old argument.
 
hmmm keeping a seahorse in a 2 gallon tank just doesnt seem fair. I think your lighting may be enough for a clam but isn't it hard to control the parameters? Then again you are majoring in marine biology.
 
In terms of lighting, watts/gallon is not a proper way to gauge lighting. It's best measured in pars, which for me translates to the intensity of light. From 13Watts/gal I'm guessing you have a 26W PC retrofit...and honestly, I also don't think the intensity will be enough for a maxima clam.

That being said, small tanks also have lots of fluctuations in parameters...temperature, salinity, and trace elements. Clams being big time Ca hogs, I can only imagine what problems you're gonna face when it comes to supplementing. I believe stability in a system is what will keep any live stock alive. Especially a clam like you describe, it sounds like a magnificent clam and I'd hate to not give it the best chance of survival. If you have some MH or even VHO or T5 in your other tanks, the clam will definitely do better in them IMHO.
 
nooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!1 what freed. i think ill give it a try. i do water changes in that tank every week (using water from my 46 gallon bow front reef). I have a dwarf seahorse in this tank so it is ok. i am working on getting another sh but need to find them cheap. lol thanks
 
well the answer is yes under one condition

that you can get a bigger light

add calcium and alk

add A.T.O.



i love clams and love to look at them sounds like you have 2 tanks why not put in the other tank
 
Freed said nooooooooooo!!!! because he doesn't think you should put a clam in there. I think you should heed everyone's advice, it's good advice.

Ask Marc (melev); he has a seahorse and had clams in a 2g Pico tank. Do a search for it, very nice little tank.
 
I don't see how someone smart enough to get into college at 17 could not realize that watts per gallon is a bogus rule. You put it under the 13 watt PC it will die quick.
 
Yes WPG is bad. Imagine this. 250w halide over a 10g tank = 25w/gallon. Super right? Now, 250w halide over a 100g tank = 2.5w/gallon...sounds bad huh? The stuff directly under the 100g halide will grow just as well as the stuff directly under the 10g halide...
 
Give it a shot? THat's like going on a Dog Forum, saying your going to keep a mastiff in a broom closet and slide potato chips under the door to feed him. He might be ok, you can get fresh chips every day.

And yes, 13 wpg is not near enough. I could put a christmas tree light bulb over a thimble and have 2 million watts per gallon. Doesn't mean I could keep anything alive. It's all abotu PAR. (Come on everyone, say it again with me...)
 
It's definitely 'All About PAR.'

It's getting old when the LFS' and others keep using wattage as the benchmark for lighting....unbeliveable!!

I'm a T5 bulb user and they sustain all types of clams.
 
well i cant get the clam until tuesday so i do have some more time to look. i did find the pico (marks) i am upgrading to a halide system for this tank so i dont think ill have to worry
 
Not exactly. Even if you have the light, there are many other problems with keeping a clam in that size tank. Not even considering that the clam will outgrow it quickly and then need to go to a larger, still suitable tank, the #1 is stability. Temp, Salinity, Alk, and CA have to be ROCK steady for a clam, and that's a very difficult thing in any small tank.

I still think you should stay away from the clam...it's just too risky.
 
thanks for the input, but i have decided to go for it. i have maintaind just though i might add this little tid bit, i do water changes every other day with water from my 46 gallon bow reef tank. all parameters are 100% perfect. i have a very stable fuge on the back of my 2 gallon so that helps to keep it stable thanks anyways
 
You don't seem to understand...even if your tank is seemingly steady, a clam will throw it majorly out of whack. THey place extreme demands on the system. Water changes won't take care of it.
 
Why do people come on here and ask advice if they're just going to do their own thing anyways? Don't tell us that you're going to put this animal's life in danger just because you feel like it.
 
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